COACH BOB McKILLOP Davidson College Coach Shares Experiences

Tuesday we had the pleasure of hearing Bob McKillop’s remarks; motivational, passionate, and personal. He shared his story with which many of us can empathize. Thirty years ago he walked onto Davidson’s campus as Head coach - then an arrogant, abrasive, cocky New Yorker ready to prove to the Basketball world why he was “the man.” Then, it was all about him and what he could motivate others to do for him.

Three losing seasons later his self-confidence was gone and he was ready to quit. Then the light went on. “Service above Self,” or in his words he recognized the truism of Princeton’s coach Pete Correll - “when you help somebody you help yourself.” No longer was life about him; it became what he could do to make others’ lives better both on and off the court. He realized he had been coaching others but not himself. His players saw the change and started to perform. It was then that they saw in him a man that cared, trusted and were committed to them. Many with whom he engages have been responding to his inspiring leadership on and off the court ever since. A resident of Davidson since 1994, I was fortunate to witness this change first hand. In 2001 my son, John Wadsworth was a North Mecklenburg High School Sophomore, the fifth cross country runner on an eight man team positioned ranked 3rd in the state, poised to compete for the 4A title. I asked Bob to speak to the team the week of the state meet. He invited them to Davidson’s basketball locker room where they hung on every word he spoke. Among his remarks as he held up the 1969 Sports Illustrated cover featuring the Davidson basketball team, he said they too were poised to achieve greatness. That cross country was a team, not an individual sport. If they focus on encouraging their teammates to run with them, not beat them, they would achieve greatness. That Saturday they won the state meet and were state champions the next two years also. My son finished third among his teammates, not fifth AND was the fourth runner among a couple of hundred to cross the finish line with three teammates achieving All-State honors. That week was life changing to John and his teammates. When you help somebody, you help yourself. Bob took time to talk to high school kids who would never play basketball for him because he had changed. His dedication was to serve others above himself. In 2008 Bob was NCAA National Coach of the Year. None of us will be honored with that accolade, but he said we can all be good coaches, providing positive leadership to our families, friends and colleagues if we coach ourselves to care, trust and be committed to others, and never stop learning and improving. Among other experiences he shared was when in 2005 he found his way to an AAU game that none of the big college school coaches noticed and watched a baby faced kid play his way through a so-so game. However, he saw in this 17 year old a work ethic,

REPORTER August 28, 2018

and the coach ability, toughness and teammate empathy he seeks. Bob gave him a scholarship and started him his first game as a freshman where in the first half he failed miserably with 9 turnovers, pulling the team down 14 at half. At halftime Bob and his team coaches momentarily thought about benching him but did not, remembering his toughness and their mutual commitment. The second half Steph Curry had 15 points and Davidson won. Today Steph still points to that game and the coach’s halftime decision to remain committed to him as a turning point in his confidence. The rest is history; many today regard Steph as the best pro basketball player ever. Bob closed with two family stories which reflect his life lessons and perspective. First he shared that his oldest son Matt was a “coach’s son.” He was a star player at Charlotte Catholic and earned four varsity Davidson letters when he played for his Dad. He played smart and crafty, some say a bit too tough in defensive transition when he knew the referees were not watching. A game late in the season, the opposing coach erupted when the referee did not see Matt’s aggressiveness and threatened Matt that he would “end his career” the next time his team played them. After the game Bob prayed, not for the coach but that he, Bob, would control his emotions at the next game. Soon the game was played without incident. Then the two teams met again in the conference tournament. In that game Matt controlled the tempo, and scored 20 plus points to lead Davidson to the victory. After the game the other team Coach was fired. The tide was turned; the confrontation went from a threat by a visiting coach to injure Matt, to Matt being a probable catalyst to the firing of an out of control opposing Coach. Prayer works. Finally Bob shared that in 2011 when the Conference championship was played in Charlotte, Davidson was among the favorites to challenge for the championship. The first game they came out tight and lost to Elon. Bob was devastated before the home crowd. He would not be on the floor Monday night in the final game in Charlotte. However, because of that, he instead went to Charlottesville with his wife Cathy to visit their oldest daughter, Kerrin. Monday night he was there when Kerrin gave birth to their first grandchild. Intervention. Attend a Davidson basketball game this season; it’s a program where all players are expected to stay all four years as dedicated “student-athletes.” Speaker Write-Up: Ed Wadsworth; Head Table: Bill Loftin, Mike Hawley, Ed Kizer, Leland Park; Invocation: Larry Broome; Visitors & Guests: Travis Vance; Song: Elizabeth Teagarden; Photos: Bert Voswinkel; Piano: Em Syrewicze

CLUB NEWS Deepest sympathy is extended to Julie, John Armistead and family. John’s mother, Mary D. Heywood Armistead passed away August 26, 2018 at The Stewart Health Center of the Cypress of Charlotte. A service to celebrate her life will be held in the Community Room of the Cypress of Charlotte at 2PM on September 1, 2018. A reception will follow and burial will be at 2PM on September 2, 2018 in the Calvary Church Cemetery in Fletcher, NC. A former member of Charlotte Rotary, David H. Stovall, Jr. passed away August 23, 2018 at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. David retired from Belk and took on the role of CEO at Jacksonville, Florida-based Stein Mart. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren. A memorial service will be held August 30, 2018 at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte.

School supplies may be dropped off at Rotary meetings anytime between August 21 and September 11. Most needed items: (consider stuffing in a book bag) pencils, colored pencils, crayons,

notebook paper, rulers, glue sticks, 2 pocket folders and composition books. Use this link to purchase online: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/S5MWQOPXF6KA/. Update your roster: Susan Nestor, First Citizens Bank, 802 Providence Rd, 2nd Floor (28207), 704-338-4356, susan.nestor@firstcitizens.com. Home: 4971 Cameron Valley Parkway (28210). Bob Culbertson has a Letter to the Editor about access to guns in this week’s Observer.

Cynthia Marshall is an Advisor for the Myers Park High School Interact Club and was on hand for their first organizational meeting of the year. No better marketing tool than a big ole painted rock. Especially, one that’s located near the Myers Park football stadium. This group is off and running with the help of MPHS advisors Anne and Robert Cullip.

It was mentioned a few weeks ago that Jerry Coughter, Paul Wyche and Warren Kean made the trip to Alto Cayma to check out all things Rotary. Jim Hintz and his team packed in as many opportunities as possible and you just can’t overlook this photo opportunity…Warren going “native” in Arequipa, Peru – attacking this poor defenseless guinea pig that just came in for a landing. Ha Ha Rotary Scholarship Golf Classic Things are coming together for the October 2nd golf tournament. 85 players are on board as of today and there’s room for about 2 more foursome’s. ALWAYS room for sponsors. Raffle tickets will be available throughout the month of September and purchasing tickets is the way ALL members can support the tournament. In order to fulfill the funding requirement to provide scholarships for the college-bound children of our first responders, the tournament needs to clear about $51,000 each year. Great packages are coming together – one night stay at the Hampton Inn (Phillips Place), dinner at The Palm, mountain home in Linville Falls, Donald Haack jewelry, Jesse Brown’s Outfitters, Charlotte City Club dinner, CPCC Theatre/Opera tickets, original watercolor sketch, Autobell Car Wash for one year, Magnum of wine and items are still coming in. $10 per ticket; 3 for $20. Cash preferred. Make a note… Charlotte Evening Rotary Club meeting at Duckworth’s, 330 N. Tryon St., 6PM Huntersville Happy Hour Rotary Club meeting at Spare Time Huntersville, 16317 Statesville Rd, Huntersville, 6:30PM Charlotte Providence Rotary Club meeting at Providence Baptist Church, 4921 Randolph Rd, 12:30PM Charlotte End of the Week Rotary Club has folded

Calendar Events - October 2, 2018 – Rotary Scholarship Golf Classic – Ballantyne Resort – the tournament is a fundraiser that provides college scholarships for families of our First Responders. - November 10, 2018 - Rotary Foundation Banquet at Langtree Plantation, 554 Langtree Rd, Mooresville, NC. Fellowship & Cocktails at 6PM; Dinner at 7PM; Program Concludes by 9PM. Keynote speaker will be Past RI President John Germ. $65 for first person; guests are $55 per person; Rotaract or Interact students $40 per student. MEMBERSHIP 07/01/2018 288 08/28/2018 284 Net Increase: -4 New Members: Resignations: Visitors 15 Club Members 118 Total 133 (49.2%) Visitors & Guests: Mike Honeycutt, Adam Snell, Neill McBryde, Jeremiah Evans, Howard Layson, Ty Simpson, Rob McFall, Jordan Watkins, Jim Horman, Brad Thomas, Charlotte Shaver, Timothy Cobb, Bryan Butler, Fred Phillips BIRTHDAYS (09/06/18 – 09/11/18) 09/06 Paul Wyche 09/08 Wes Jones, Tom Blocker, Patricia Shafer 09/09 Colleen Brannan, Tom O’Brien 09/11 John Armistead, Bryan Adams, Brian Carn WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (09/06/18 – 09/11/18) 09/07 Harriet & Bill Barnhardt 09/09 Robin & Tom Gibson 09/10 Libby & Alan Simonini 09/11 Meg & Bryan Adams ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES (09/06/18 – 09/11/18) 01 year – Annn Clark 03 years – Greg Reagan 04 years – Wes Sturges 07 years – Jerry Coughter 09 years – Elly Clary 21 years – Rob Thomas UPCOMING PROGRAMS 09/04 Dr. Jim Martin, Revelation through Science 09/11 Police Chief Kerr Putney, MEDIC Joe Penner, Fire Chief Reginald Johnson, Sheriff Irwin Carmichael, Governor Pat McCrory, First Responders 9/11 Panel 09/18 Margaret Spellings, President, UNC System 09/25 Dale Folwell, Treasurer, State of North Carolina

Photos from our luncheons and other events can be found on Flickr Click here

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